The Revolt of the Cockroach People Summary

Chapter 1:
Three hundred Chicanos carrying candles are gathered on Christmas Eve 1969 in front of St. Basil's Church. The affluent from the Beverly Hills mansions are inside the church while the marchers are from the east side of the Los Angeles River from a barrio known as Tooner Flats. The marchers are told they can enter the church for the televised march but when they reach the top of the stairs, the doors are closed and they are told that the church is full. Gilbert, Pelon and the other leaders decide they want to go inside. When they walk around the side of the church, they find the police waiting in riot gear in the parking lot. The crowd outside is chanting to let the poor people into the church. A few punches are thrown between Gilbert and the usher when it dawns on the lawyer that the usher is a policeman. The police surround the group as the other Chicanos enter the church. During the ensuing confrontation, the Chicanos are sprayed with Mace. The lawyer watches. Since he is dressed in a suit and tie, the police do not touch him. The street nun, Duana Doherty, enters the church and runs to the front where she asks the congregation to help the poor people. Two ushers carry her out. Chicano militant Gloria Chavez attacks the altar with a golf club. As she runs to the vestibule, three police grab her. The lawyer, Brown, watches all of this. Sgt. Armas tells his men to leave Brown alone because he is the Chicano's lawyer. Brown tells the rest of the Chicanos to go home. They will meet again tomorrow for the Christmas Mass. Brown goes to his office. He calls a journalist friend of his in Colorado and tells him about the riot in the church. Brown wants the journalist to write the story.

Chapter 2:
In January 1968, Brown came to Los Angeles. He arrived by bus and checked into the Belmont, at Third and Hill. The hotel was infested with cockroaches, and when he walked around the surrounding area, he didn't like it. It was populated with hobos and prostitutes. The next morning his sister picks him up and drives him to her home in Canogo Park. He meets her husband Dave, an engineer who works on projects for the military. This is not acceptable to Brown, but he says nothing. they talk about his plans, and Teresa tells him about a group of Chicano Militants in East Los Angeles. Brown decides that the suburban life style of Teresa and Dave isn't what he is looking for. That afternoon, he visits his cousin Manny's bar called Manny's Fish Bowl. Manny had been a high jumper at the University of Southern California and was considered a contender for the 1952 Olympics. When the time came, the coach ignored him. Manny claims it is because he was Chicano. Manny tells Brown that the Chicano Militants are a group of Communist punks. They talk for the afternoon and Manny gives Brown some money. He pays one month's rent in advance. While lying in bed, he remembers his protest at his grad school graduation when the Chicanos were not allowed to march with white partners. He decides that he will learn Spanish, write a book and practice criminal law.

Chapter 3:
Brown met Gilbert after he had been in Los Angeles for three months. Brown says he is researching an article for the New York Times. A friend of Manny’s introduces him to Gilbert. One of the offices of the Militants is in the basement of an Episcopalian church in Tooner Flats. They don't show much interest in him until they learn that he is a lawyer. Gilbert says they need a Chicano lawyer who is on their side. They ask Brown about his legal background and the kinds of cases he has handled. Gilbert asks to see his Bar card and he shows it to them. The Chicano Militants are planning to stage a strike that Brown says he wants to write about. Gilbert wants him to write for their paper La Voz and tells him to come to the demonstration the next day. They agree to meet in front of the Garfield School at nine the next morning. Brown has been in protest marches before. He is also drinking again, which he figures is part of his personal heritage. He had taken the name Buffalo Zeta Brown. Brown attends the demonstration the next day. All of the people are wearing Chicano Liberation Front buttons. The students are being urged not to attend school. As soon as students enter the school, a fire alarm sounds and they pour out. Police and fire engines arrive. There is a confrontation and arrests. The students begin to march to the school board. Brown wonders what his role should be.

 Chapter 4:
In Chapter Four, Brown travels to Delano to meet with Cesar Chavez. The Farm Workers Union has a forty-acre ranch there that is their headquarters. Chavez has been on a hunger strike for twenty-five days but asks Brown how he is doing in Los Angeles. He tells Brown to help the group in Los Angeles. As Brown leaves, he decides he will help the group for several months and then go to Acapulco to write.

Chapter 5:
Brown is now working out of his room at the Belmont Hotel. After his visit with Chavez, he is working for Gilbert, Risco and Ruth and other cases on May 21, 1968. He receives a call from the church office saying that the police are there. By the time Brown arrives, Ruth is there alone. Gilbert, Risco and Mangas have been arrested. The police have also raided the offices of the Chicano Militants. He tells Ruth to call a meeting for that evening. On the way to the jail, he listens to the news and learns that thirteen of the Chicano Militants have been indicted by a Grand Jury on charges of conspiracy to disrupt schools. At the jail he asks to see all thirteen prisoners. Risco introduces him to the prisoners he doesn't already know. They learn from Brown that they can face up to forty-five years in prison, three years for each of the fifteen counts. He tells them that they better view the situation seriously. Brown doesn't feel that he has the experience to represent them, but Gilbert wants him. Brown views the situation as being politically motivated since the arrests are right before the California Primary. The group had received telegrams of support from Kennedy and McCarthy, but not from Nixon. They decide to approach the problem from that point of view and to have pickets outside the jail. Risco and some of the men will stage a hunger strike until they are free. Back at the church, Brown explains the situation to the assembled group and tells them what the prisoners’ want. The group begins to work on the literature and posters that they need. The next morning there is a police line outside the Glass House. A group of Black Panthers and another black group are there to support the protesters, along with some people from the Communist Party. Brown gives orders to the protesters so they avoid arrest. Five thousand people march for five hours. They then go to Placita Square for a rally. Brown speaks at the rally and refers to the prison as the East Los Angeles Thirteen and presents the charges against then as political persecution for their speaking out against racism. The East Los Angeles Thirteen are released on bail. Gilbert, Brown and others, while at the campaign headquarters of a candidate for District Attorney, receive offers of support from both the McCarthy and Kennedy campaigns. While they are talking, Kennedy is shot. They listen to the reports on television. They feel that their cause is lost and that Nixon will now win the election.

Chapter 6:
Brown and members of the group are out around a lake near Edwards AFB, smoking dope and trying to relax. Everyone is tense about the upcoming trial. The owner of the property wants them to leave and starts shooting at them. They run off. When the trial had initiated, Brown had argued that the indictment was defective and that the group had the constitutional right to march and protest. As a result, the court issued a temporary restraining order. It would probably be a year before there was a ruling. Brown receives a call from Doctor Francisco Bravo, owner of the Pan American Bank, requesting a meeting with Mayor Yorty to discuss the situation in East Los Angeles. All thirteen defendants appear for the meetings. The mayor wants them to stop holding so many demonstrations. That fall Brown became involved with the six Chicano law students and their battle against the Catholic Church. They try to see Cardinal McIntryre, who is busy. When they try to make an appointment, they are told they will be notified by mail. On the way out, they walk into the Cardinal's office. The police escort them out. Three weeks later they stage the Christmas Eve protest at St. Basil's.

Chapter 7:
Chapter Seven opens on Christmas Day, 1969. After the arrest of the St. Basil Twenty-One, the [protesters are back at the church. They are marching in front of the church for the release of the prisoners with full media coverage. Stonewall, Brown's journalist friend from Colorado, helped make the arrangements for a showing of reporters from around the world. The attack on the Church is not received well by various Chicano communities who are Catholic and loyal to the church. Funding with grant money from various sources financed their various organizations. Some of the foundations began asking questions about their activities. The Ford Foundation funded Brown, whose Chicano Legal Defense. Brown quit and moved his office from the Belmont to the Episcopal Church's basement. They decide to have a three day fast and are allowed to use the grounds of the Jewish Temple near St. Basil's. The police position held by Sgt. Armas is two blocks away in the Fedco Building. During the fast, Brown meets three girls, Veronica, Madeline, and Rosalie, who come home to his apartment after the fast. Then it is announced that the Pope has fired Cardinal McIntyre.

Chapter 8:
A week after the firing of the cardinal, the family of Robert Fernandez arrives at the church basement asking for Brown's help. Seventeen-year-old Robert had been killed by the police, according to his family. He had been high on drugs. He met his sister who went to buy him a six-pack. When she returned, the police were talking to her brother and his friends because Robert had shouted out the words Chicano Power. The police threatened the sister, Lupe, with arrest when she asked what happened. The family tells Brown that Robert has had problems with that particular police officer before. When Robert called his mother an hour later, he said he had been booked for Plain Drunk with bail set at five hundred dollars. A little while later, they receive a call from the police saying that Robert hung himself and was dead and the family had to identify the body. At the funeral, the family notices purple spots on Robert's face. A man called Andy de Silva calls the family and tells them that his nephew, Mickey de Silva, was Robert's cell mate and that Robert had hanged himself. The family doesn't believe it. Brown calls the coroner's office and says he will be there that afternoon. They would have a demonstration outside the office. While the demonstrators wait outside, Brown has a meeting with Coroner Naguchi, who says he will conduct a second autopsy with a panel of seven pathologists. They make the announcement at a joint press conference. The following week, Brown attends the autopsy.

Chapter 9:
The results of the autopsy on Robert Fernandez are inconclusive, but one of the pathologists says he thinks the boy was murdered. Brown looks for Mickey de Silva and can't find him so he talks to his uncle, Andy. The coroner's hearing room is packed. The Chicano Militants are also there. Rosalie, Madeline and Veronica are there with Brown. Both Andy and Mickey are missing. The proceedings are televised. Brown feels that the situation at the hearing is politically motivated. Several people testify in addition to the pathologists, including the arresting officer, the jailer and the prisoner who collected the blankets. The prisoner testifies that the blanket Fernandez had was not cut up. In addition, the measurement of the cloth cut from the blanket presented as evidence do not match the measurement of the piece of cloth Fernandez is said to have tied around his neck. In addition, the strip of cloth has jagged edges while the hold in the blanket is straight cut. The next day a psychological profile of Robert describes the situation in his life and says it is possible that he may have committed suicide. Mickey de Silva is then brought in to testify. He says he was asleep, and when he awoke, the police were removing Robert's body from the cell. The jury rules that Robert's death was suicide.

Chapter 10:
Brown is now living in a house on Sixth Street with Gilbert and the three girls. They drive there after the hearing and make Molotov cocktails. Brown vows to get even for Robert's death. Brown has Gilbert and Pelon dress in jackets and ties. They have no specified plans when they start to drive around. Brown says they need to find a target that is symbolic. They discuss what names they will give if they are caught. Brown says he will give his own name. They talk about finding the deputy who arrested Robert. They talk about killing de Silva or another cop. Since the Farmworkers Union were picketing Safeway, they talk
about bombing a Safeway store. They work out the details of the attack. Gilbert and Pelon bomb the store while Brown waits in the car. The three drive back to the house to celebrate with the girls. The next day Brown files as a candidate for Sheriff of Los Angeles County.

Chapter 11:
Brown has an interview with Roland Zanzibar of KMEX about the Fernandez case. The station had broadcast the Coroner's hearing and Brown feels the reporter has agenuine interest in the situation. In the interview, Brown refers to the Chicanos as the Cockroach people. He also announces that he filed to run for sheriff and shows his receipt for the filing fee. He is not using the name of Zeta and says that since he has no organization or finances, his candidacy is a purely educational undertaking. After the interview, they talks over a beer at a neighboring bar. Brown represents all of the St. Basil Twenty One. They have to have a special room for the trial because of the number of defendants. They find, during the trial, that the police had alerted church officials of the possibility of trouble at the Mass, although they wouldn't say where the information came from. During the first day of the trial, Brown is ruled in contempt of court for his behavior. Because of comments by spectators, they are cleared from the courtroom so they don't prejudice the jury. When Brown objects to this, he is reprimanded and makes a motion for mistrial, saying he objects to the judge and the court. The judge orders him arrested. When some of the defendant say they want to be heard, they are also arrested since their bail is revoked. They are released after lunch. The next day, the rector of St. Basil's testifies. Brown questions him about the advance information about the disturbance. Monsignor Hawkes testifies that the two street nuns, Josie and Duana, are not in good standing with the church. He asks about Cardinal McIntyre's dismissal and says that constitutes the defense of his clients. The judge orders Brown into custody for his way of speaking.

Chapter 12:
During the month long trial of the St. Basil Twenty One, Brown was found in contempt ten times. During the closing arguments, Brown tells a story from the year 1500 AD and how Cortex landed in Mexico. In 1850, there were more invaders. The religion of Christianity is imposed on them. A hundred years after that, the St. Basil Twenty One try to obtain an audience with the Cardinal to secure his help in obtaining
a better life for Chicanos. They are threatened and arrested. When he finishes, he receives a standing oration from the crowd. After three hours, Brown is informed that the jury has delivered a verdict. On the way back to the courtroom, he is introduced to Liberace, who says he will vote for Brown. Back in the courtroom, they find there is no verdict; the jury wants portions of testimony read. It takes seven days for the verdict. Six defendants are found guilty and the other fifteen are innocent. Sentences are from ninety days to six months. Brown will appeal, but they celebrate the partial victory at his house. One of the jurors from the trial calls him and he leaves to meet her in Watts, where she lives. She tells him about the deliberations and how a deal was made that if the six were fund guilty, the others would be cleared. Someone in the legal field could only have made the outline she shows him. This gives Brown his basis for appeal. They spend the night together.

Chapter 13:
Brown continues his campaign for sheriff. He draws a lot of support from different function, including Hollywood stars. He attends a rally for Chicano candidates with Rosalie. Anthony Quinn introduces some Chicano politicians. He also introduces Brown. Vicki Carr speaks and sings. A month later, Brown attends a protest rally at UCLA. They are protesting in support of the student protesters killed in Ohio and Kent State. Brown has been invited to speak along with Angela Davis and Corky Gonzales. Gilbert, Pelon and Black Eagle are also with him since they function as his bodyguards. Brown more or less antagonizes the crowd when he speaks. After the rally, Brown learns of a big demonstration to be held in August, but he is tiring of the scene. The week before the election, the East Los Angeles Thirteen win their case in the appellate court. They are free. Brown files for a new trial for the St. Basil group based on the information he obtained from juror Jean Fisher. He is denied and told to appeal. Brown lost the race for sheriff but came in second. He returns the girls to their grandmother's house and leaves for Acapulco.

Chapter 14:
Brown is in Acapulco with friends. After three days, he finds the police have been asking questions about him. He friend, Jesus, has lived in Mexico for five years, and tells him not to worry about the police. They drive around sightseeing and talking. Brown says he is not planning to become involved in any more battles for a long time. They go to a nightclub. They have Anna and Betti with them and dance and drink.
Betti gives Brown a Quaalude-400, which he takes with alcohol. Brown and the two girls go to the motel rooms. A man says he wants to watch and Brown says he doesn't care. Brown teaches the reporter Roland Zanzibar was killed while covering the riots in East Los Angeles. A Chicano leader named Rudolfo Gonzales was arrested for the crime. This is the same Corky Gonzales that he had met at the protest rally. He tries to find out what information he can from the newspaper. He finds that the men were arrested for crossing state lines to incite a riot. He decides he has to return to Los Angeles to help out. He calls and talks to Black Eagle and finds that Gilbert was shot by the FBI, but it was only a flesh wound. He leaves Acapulco that night.

Chapter 15:
They are watching a color film of the Chicano Moratorium of August 29, 1970. In it are scenes from the riots at Laguna Park. The film is shown in the trial of the Tooner Flats Seven who are on trial for among other things, arson, conspiracy and rioting. Sheriff Peaches is relating the events of the riots. The judge is Alfred Alacran and he has ruled Brown in contempt more than a dozen times since the beginning of the trial. Brown leaves with Gilbert and Sailor Boy. Brown had arrived back in Los Angeles on August 30, 1970 and was met at the airport by Gilbert and Pelon. While they drive, they tell him what has happened the past several months. When they question him about Mexico, he tells them they have no right to complain about him spending time with his brother. He'd been working as a lawyer for three years when he didn't want to be a lawyer. They drive to Laguna Park looking at the aftermath of the riots. They meet with some of the other militants. He agrees to defend the Seven and then goes on to his house on Sixth Street. Brown doesn't look forward to another long trial. He promises himself that he will write his book after the trial and that he will destroy the courthouse where all of the trials were.

Chapter 16:
In Chapter Sixteen, Brown holds a press conference the day after his return and calls the Grand Jury a racist institution. After the first week, a lot of people were staying at his house and they all had guns. There was a meeting of the leaders and defendants. Brown asks them questions since he is the defense attorney. They all say that they don't tell the protesters to pick up guns. They talks about the book Brown plans to write.

Chapter 17:
Brown talks to some people protesting the political persecution of Charles Manson. They tell Brown that the situation is political, just as in his cases. Brown's briefcase is never searched when he enters the courthouse. They all know him. He carries Sailor Boy's .357 Magnum in his briefcase. In court, Brown explains to the judge that his position is that the court doesn't have jurisdiction because of Grand Jury discrimination. Chicanos constitute a class of people and his witness, Doctor Joan Moore, will testify to this. The trial proceeds and before the end of the session, Brown's taken into custody for two days and nights. He is back with Sergeant Lovelace again. On Monday, the session resumes and he questions judges for the next few months. The last judge Brown questions Judge Charles Older, who is the judge in the Charles Manson case. Manson supporters, known as Charlie's Girls, are in the courtroom. The questioning concerns the kind of people that are selected for Grand Juries. They don't select hippies, cockroaches or Beatniks. Finally, the session is adjourned. Brown knows that his deal to write a book has made him enemies. He tries to explain to the group that they need writers, just like they need lawyers, especially now that Zanzibar is dead. They need someone to present their views. After the questions of the judges’ ends, the trial is set to open on Monday.

Chapter 18:
One of the witnesses at the trial is undercover police officer Fernando Sumaya. He testifies about attending a meeting at Brown's Sixth Street home. Brown wasn't there, but the group made plans for a march the next day. Brown also questions him about the events surrounding the Zanzibar killing since he was in the Silver Dollar Bar where and when the reporter was killed. The next witness, police officer Tom Wilson, is questioned about his reasons for firing into the Silver Dollar Bar. Brown also questions Officer Valencia, who had arrested Corky. The trial continues for more than two months. Brown insinuates that the authorities knew that Zanzibar and his crew had tapes showing what really happened at Laguna Park and they were afraid that Zanzibar would expose them. He claims the murder of Zanzibar and the arrests were ordered by police chief Todd Davis. Davis claims that Brown is the leader of the Militants. Davis, who had taught at UCLA with Brown, denies Brown's allegations. Cesar Chavez appears as a character witness. Brown does not offer any closing arguments. He feels that since the jury is bored and has learned of his own involvement, that it is best not to do so. The jury is instructed and sent to deliberate.

Chapter 19:
In Chapter Nineteen, after fifteen days of deliberations, the Tooner Flats Seven are found innocent. Only Corky was found guilty of misdemeanor possession of a weapon. The Militants had purchased the materials they needed and made seven time bombs to blow up the courthouse. They are set to explode one half hour after the group leaves the courthouse. The group goes to a party at Brown's Sixth Street house. During the party, they hear a news report about the explosions at the courthouse. They drive to a phone booth where they call the police department recorder and read a prepared statement claiming responsibility for the blast. Another newscast tells them that a body has been found. Brown leaves the case and heads for Frisco Bay. He wasn't caught for his involvement. It is the spring of 1972.

Afterworld:
This was written by Marco Acosta, Oscar’s son. This is an expression of thoughts about his father. He hadn’t expected to write it until he randomly got the idea. By writing this he hoped that people would understand the importance of Mexican-American history of the 60s. He also goes on to explain possible explanations to his father’s disappearance.